Your favourite melodies?

Ten thumbs · December 02, 2011, 04:57:10 AM

Many beautiful melodies have been mentioned here but, as it's up to me to record those of Fanny Hensel-Menselssohn, who one could almost say was born in melody (although 'Bach fugal fingers' were remarked upon at birth!).
Here are a few from hundreds I could have chosen:

Songs:
Allnächtlich im Traume
Nicht liegt auf fremden Wegen
Die Mainacht
Nacht ist wie ein stilles Meer
Abendbild (Friedlicher Abend)
Traum

Piano Trio, Op.11 Slow movement

Piano pieces:
Notturno, H-U 337
Andante con Moto, H-U 330
Lied, Op2 no3
Lied in Ed, H-U456
Allegro vivace in A, H-U 459

The last could be used as a masterclass in melodic extension and development.

Lisztianwagner · January 04, 2012, 07:17:47 AM

The Alma Theme has already been discussed, so I'll talk about the first melody of Mahler's Symphony No.6

This motif, having the character of a march, seems to evoke a deep, haunting, dramatic atmosphere, but which is at the same time so beautiful, powerful and touching! Percussion and brass create a impressive, furious rythm, full of melodic shades, that only stops hammering down to give space to the strings for the intense, passionate "Alma Theme", how wonderful! Definitely, one of the most expressive and striking pieces ever composed.

Tapio Dmitriyevich · January 04, 2012, 07:28:23 AM

Hmmm. John Benett "Venus Birds" for instance. The melody first appears at 0:48. First whistled, then sung. It's the good thing about this melody, it starves for being whistled

http://www.youtube-nocookie.com/v/7KwHErv7Ryk

madaboutmahler · January 04, 2012, 08:16:31 AM

Quote from: Lisztianwagner on January 04, 2012, 07:17:47 AM
Definitely, one of the most expressive and striking pieces ever composed.

Completely agree with you, Ilaria! The 1st movement to Mahler 6 is my favourite Mahler movement, along with the 1st to no.7, and the 1st, 3rd and finale to no.9.

Karl Henning · January 04, 2012, 09:00:19 AM

Love the theme of the slow movemen of the Prokofiev g minor violin concerto.

Lisztianwagner · January 04, 2012, 09:04:06 AM

Quote from: madaboutmahler on January 04, 2012, 08:16:31 AM
Completely agree with you, Ilaria! The 1st movement to Mahler 6 is my favourite Mahler movement, along with the 1st to no.7, and the 1st, 3rd and finale to no.9.

I totally share your love for those pieces, as a matter of fact they are my favourite Mahler movements as well! But I also include the first part of Symphony No.8, Veni, creator Spiritus.

TheGSMoeller · January 04, 2012, 09:44:36 AM

Gonna throw in some more Baroque, this thread needs it

Rameau: Les Tample de la gloire - Air tendre pour les Muses
The second theme that starts at 2:12 gets me every time.

http://www.youtube.com/v/HwZLiRpByVs

Lisztianwagner · January 04, 2012, 10:38:06 AM

Quote from: Lisztianwagner on January 04, 2012, 09:04:06 AM
I totally share your love for those pieces, as a matter of fact they are my favourite Mahler movements as well! But I also include the first part of Symphony No.8, Veni, creator Spiritus.

Quoting myself:

And 1st and 2nd to symphony No.1, how could I leave them out?

Sergeant Rock · January 04, 2012, 10:57:58 AM

Quote from: TheGSMoeller on January 04, 2012, 09:44:36 AM
Rameau: Les Tample de la gloire - Air tendre pour les Muses

Beautiful. It's OOP but I found a not insanely priced used copy

Sarge

Karl Henning · January 04, 2012, 11:07:37 AM

The theme at the start of Part I of Hindemith's Konzertmusik for strings & brass, Op.50

North Star · January 04, 2012, 12:31:16 PM

Quote from: starrynight on November 29, 2011, 10:13:24 PM
No Haydn?

Well, I might add Dowland, Vivaldi, Pergolesi, Haydn, Berlioz, Rossini, Verdi, Bizet, Puccini, Sarasate, Grieg, Lalo, Bruch, and Ravel.

Perhaps it would be simpler just posting links to some melodies, of course you might find that I leave out some good ones

TheGSMoeller · January 04, 2012, 07:17:49 PM

Quote from: Sergeant Rock on January 04, 2012, 10:57:58 AM
Beautiful. It's OOP but I found a not insanely priced used copy

Sarge

I first heard this piece on Marc Minkowski's Rameau: Une Symphonie Imaginaire disc and fell in love with it.I just recently purchased the entire Le Temple de la Gloire orchestral suite from Nicholas McGegan/Philharmonia Baroque Orchestra and it's wonderful. I hope you enjoy it, Sarge.

Sergeant Rock · January 05, 2012, 02:59:15 AM

Quote from: TheGSMoeller on January 04, 2012, 07:17:49 PMI hope you enjoy it, Sarge.

From the bits and pieces I've heard (on youtube, clips at Amazon) I don't think there's any doubt I will. Of the various versions I sampled, McGegan appealed to me the most.

Sarge

Tapio Dmitriyevich · January 06, 2012, 09:22:19 AM

Quote from: TheGSMoeller on November 22, 2011, 07:56:18 AMhttp://www.youtube.com/v/g2uA4msplTg

Lovely one, TheGSMoeller!

Maybe an obvious choice: Fauré - Pavane op. 50, accompanied by a child here

http://www.youtube.com/v/YMF-9IX3M_0

TheGSMoeller · January 06, 2012, 09:29:36 AM

Quote from: Tapio Dmitriyevich Shostakovich on January 04, 2012, 07:28:23 AM
Hmmm. John Benett "Venus Birds" for instance. The melody first appears at 0:48. First whistled, then sung. It's the good thing about this melody, it starves for being whistled
http://www.youtube-nocookie.com/v/7KwHErv7Ryk

Finally got to watch this, my iPad couldn't load the video... this is great! Such beauty.
Update: Just ordered this disc, listened to this video and maybe 2 minutes worth of samples, didn't take long.

Quote from: Tapio Dmitriyevich Shostakovich on January 06, 2012, 09:22:19 AM
Maybe an obvious choice: Fauré - Pavane op. 50, accompanied by a child here

And I was interested thinking that maybe a young child was singing the melody.

But yes, this is lovely.
Thanks for sharing.

North Star · January 06, 2012, 09:55:24 AM

Mendelssohn's 3rd, 'Scottish' symphony's first movement (Maag & LSO) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=znpzP8Aru3U
Schubert: Arpeggione sonata: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X66fGCBhwzc

Opus106 · January 06, 2012, 10:39:42 AM

Quote from: North Star on January 06, 2012, 09:55:24 AM
Schubert: Arpeggione sonata: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X66fGCBhwzc

Da man! He's got so much of that lovely stuff that makes you happy and sad at the same moment.

Has anybody mentioned the opening theme of D. 940 yet?

North Star · January 06, 2012, 02:15:16 PM

Quote from: Opus106 on January 06, 2012, 10:39:42 AM
Da man! He's got so much of that lovely stuff that makes you happy and sad at the same moment.

Has anybody mentioned the opening theme of D. 940 yet?

If they haven't they should have.
Schubert sure was one of the truly greatest melody writers, the piano sonatas (14,16,19,20,21), the last quartets, the string quintet, the impromptus, the songs, the 5th & 8th symphonies. And the 'happy and sad' is just right, too. I don't recall who it was who said that "when Schubert goes in to major, it is often even sadder [than in minor]" but he was certainly right, the 14th piano sonata is a perfect example of that.

Here's what Schumann said of him (in a letter to to Friedrich Wieck, 1829; quoted in Gal, The Musician's World (1965))

QuoteWhere other people keep diaries in which they record their momentary feelings, etc, Schubert simply kept sheets of music by him and confided his changing moods to them; and his soul being steeped in music, he put down notes when another man would resort to words.

Popov · January 06, 2012, 03:20:34 PM

Quote from: karlhenning on January 04, 2012, 09:00:19 AM
Love the theme of the slow movemen of the Prokofiev g minor violin concerto.

+1

Opus106 · January 06, 2012, 10:04:46 PM

Quote from: North Star on January 06, 2012, 02:15:16 PM
If they haven't they should have.
Schubert sure was one of the truly greatest melody writers, the piano sonatas (14,16,19,20,21), the last quartets, the string quintet, the impromptus, the songs, the 5th & 8th symphonies. And the 'happy and sad' is just right, too. I don't recall who it was who said that "when Schubert goes in to major, it is often even sadder [than in minor]" but he was certainly right, the 14th piano sonata is a perfect example of that.

I have read something similar in the sleeve notes of a disc written by Anner Bylsma, which also includes one of my favourite descriptions of Schubert.

In a major key the mood is rarely entirely joyous and in the minor, apart from a sudden upsurge of rebellion, his music is of a soothing sweetness.

Schubert is the man on the way to the gallows, unable to stop telling his friends how incomparably beautiful life is -- and how simple.

Quote
Here's what Schumann said of him (in a letter to to Friedrich Wieck, 1829; quoted in Gal, The Musician's World (1965))

That's quite apt.

Your favourite melodies?

Popov